Target



y 1936- W.,H. REYNOLDS 2,039,552

TARGET Filed June 26, 1935 //v1 /v 710,4 WILL 1AM ff FEYNULES Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TARGET Application June 26, 1933, Serial No. 677,597

9 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a target comprising a plurality of target members arranged one behind the other and preferably progressively larger from the front to rear so that the device appears as a single target to the marksman.

While not limited thereto, the target preferably comprises ten target members which operate in a manner similar to ten pins in bowling and the scoring may be the same as that used in bowling. Target practice may thus be made a game in which two or more contestants may engage and the fact that the operation of the target members and the scoring are similar to that of bowling add to the interest in the practice.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention with the shock absorbing device omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the target as viewed by the marksman.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing I9 is a base support provided with two upwardly extending arms or standards II only one of which is illustrated in the drawing. In the embodiment illustrated the frame I2 comprises two spaced channel members I3 which may conveniently be secured together by bars I4 which. are preferably welded to the lower sides of the channel members. The frame is mounted on a shaft I5 which is in turn mounted in the standards II as at I6.

The target proper comprises a plurality of target elements indicated generally at I I pivotally mounted on shafts l8 which are in turn mounted in the channel members I3. In the embodiment of myinvention illustrated there are ten such target elements each comprising target members I9 and arms 23 preferably generally A-shaped in form, pivoted on shafts l8. The first two target members I9I and I92 are preferably imperforate and the succeeding target members may conveniently be provided with openings as illustrated in Fig. 1. The front target member ISI and succeeding alternate target members at the rear thereof are distinctively colored as black, while the remaining target members I92 and the alternately successive target members may be colored white so that in front view the target has the appearance to the marksman of an ordinary target, the target elements which are preferably cylindrical being arranged substantially concentric about a common axis when in operative position.

The frame I2 in its normal position is prefer ably inclined from thefront to the rear as indicated in Fig. 1, and when the target elements occupy their normal operative positions, the lower ends ofthe arms 20 engage associated bars I I which serve as stops to limit the forward movement of the target elements. When the parts occupy the position illustrated in Fig. l the center of gravity of the various target elements is preferably located slightly in advance of the pivotal mounting thereof so that when the lower ends of the arms 20 engage the bars, the targets are retained in an approximately vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will, of course, be understood that the target elements which are secured to the upper ends of the arms have their centers of gravity slightly forward of their pivotal mountings so that a comparatively small force only is required to move'the elements from an operative to an inoperative position. The target elements are spaced from each other, and the spacing is such that when a given target element, with the exception of the rear one, is moved from its operative to its inoperative position, it engages the next target element to the rear, thereby moving it to its inoperative position and the second target element which is thus moved, similarly moves the element to its rear. When any given target element is moved from its operative to its inoperative position it causes all of the target elements at the rear thereof to be moved to their inoperative positions.

In accordance with my invention a common means is provided for simultaneously returning all of the target elements fro-m their inoperative to their operative positions. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, a member 2| is pivotally mounted on the rear shaft I8 and comprises two arms which may conveniently be made integral and which are located outside of the supporting arms 20 of the rear target member I99. A flexible member 22 which may be formed of light Wire is attached to the upper end of the arm H. The flexible member extends over a pulley 23 and other pulleys if desired, to a convenient position for operation, for example, to a position adjacent to the marksman. The pulley 23 is preferably located approximately above the member 2| when the latter is in elevated position in order to prevent strain on said member. The member 2| is preferably provided with a weighted member 24 which serves to return the member to its lowered position after it has been elevated to move the targets to their operative position. A rubber pad 25 is preferably secured to the member 22 and engages a similar pad 26.

A shock absorbing device 21, which is illustrated as having the form of the ordinary door check, is preferably connected to the frame I2 which serves to retard the movement of the frame when moving to the position indicated in Fig. 1 after it has elevated the target'elements to their operative position. The shock absorbing device 27, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated, comprises an arm 28 the end of which is provided with a roller 29 engaging a slot 39 in the end of one of the channels I 3.

To return the targets from their lowered to their elevated positions, the member 2I is elevated by pulling on the wire 22 thereby fully elevating the target I99 and partially elevating the remaining targets. When the member 2! has been lifted the continued pull on the wire or other flexible member 22 tilts the frame I 2 to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2 at which time all the targets drop forwardly beyond the vertical positions where they remain after the member 2| is released and after the frame I2 has returned to the full line position of Fig. 2, the

, shock absorbing device 21 insuring a sufiiciently advantageously spaced a distance of three or four inches.

The supporting arms 20 preferably comprise straight vertical portions ZIJI at their lower ends, these portions being successively longer from the front toward the rear asindicated in Figs. 1 and 2.to bring the points joining the straight vertical portions of the arms to the inclined portions in the same horizontal line and so that the arms will all register with each other as viewed by the marksman. The second target element is preferably provided with a cross bar SI secured to the arms 20 to form a support for the front taret element when the elements have been lowered to their inoperative position.

The operation of the device embodying my invention is as follows. The parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 are ready for use. The marksman aims at the bulls eye, that is, the target member I9I. In case he misses I9I but hits the target member I94, the impact will rotate the target element rearwardly. In moving from its operative to its inoperative position the target member I94 engages the target member I95 and moves it to its inoperative position and all of the target elements to the rear of the element I 94 are similarly moved to their inoperative positions. The marksman thus knows that he has hit target number 4 and only the three remaining targets remain. In the foregoing case, when using the system of scoring employed in bowling, he would have a count of seven. Then if on his second shot he hit target I92, he would have a score of nine for that round of shooting. If, however, on thefilst shot he hit the bulls eye I9I, he would have a count of ten and it would apply not only to his first round but to the two next successive rounds. If, on the other hand, on his first shot he hit the target member I94, and on the second shot, the bulls eye I9I, the marksman would have a spare.

After two shots the target elements are returned to their operative position by the member 2| in the manner heretofore described when they are ready for the next marksman.

While I have described my invention as particularly useful as a target for a rifle, it will, of course, be understood that it may be used for any game where a missile is projected, for example, it could be used with an air gun, pistol, arrow, baseball or any other desired missile.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description and not of limitation. Hence changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a target, a plurality of pivotally mounted spaced target elements comprising target members substantially concentric about a common axis when in operative position and arranged one behind the other, the target members being progressively larger from front to rear, stops limiting the forward movement of said elements, the center of gravity of said elements when in operative position being in advance of the pivotal supports of the respective elements.

2. In a target, a plurality of pivotally mounted spaced target elements comprising target members arranged one behind the other, the target members being progressively larger from front to rear, a pivotally mounted frame on which said elements are supported, a member pivotally mounted on said frame at the rear of its pivotal mounting and engageable with the rear target when in inoperative position and means comprising a flexible member attached to said pivotally mounted member and capable of actuating the latter and simultaneously tilting said frame and restoring said elements to their normally operative position.

3. In a target, a pivotally mounted frame, a plurality of target elements pivotally mounted on said frame the centers of gravity of which are in advance of their respective pivots when in their normal operative positions, said target elements being provided with substantially circular target members concentrically arranged about a common axis when in operative position, and means for partially elevating said tar-get elements and then tilting said frame sufiiciently to move said elements to their normally elevated positions.

4. In a target, a pivotally mounted frame, a plurality of target elements pivotally mounted on said frame the centers of gravity of which are in advance of their respective pivots when in their normal operative positions, said targets being provided with substantially circular target members concentrically arranged about a common axis when in operative position, a member pivotally mounted on said frame at the rear of said target elements and engageable with the rear tar-get element when in inoperative position, and means operatively connected to said member for elevating the same and then tilting said frame.

5. In a target, a pivotally mounted frame, a plurality of target elements pivotally mounted on said frame the centers of gravity of which are in advance of their respective pivots when in their normal operative positions, said targets being provided with substantially circular target members concentrically arranged about a common axis when in operative position, a member pivotally mounted on said frame at the rear of said target elements and engageable with the rear tar-get element when in inoperative position, means operatively connected to said member for elevating the same and then tilting said frame, and shock absorbing means connected to said frame and operative to retard the movement of said frame from its tilted to its normal operative position.

6. In a device of the character described, a plurality of spaced target elements substantially concentric about a common axis when in their operative position and arranged one behind the other, the target elements being progressively larger from front to rear, said target elements being pivotally supported at points below said elements and. having their centers of gravity in advance of their respective pivotal supports, and means for limiting the forward movement of said elements.

'7. The combination set forth in claim 6 together with a common means for moving said elements from an inoperative to an operative position.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the elements are so spaced that a. given element engages the next element in the rear in moving from an operative to an inoperative position.

9. In a device of the character described, a pivotally mounted frame, a plurality of spaced target elements piv'otally mounted on said frame, the centers of gravity of said target elements being in advance of their respective pivots when in their normal operative positions, said target elements being provided with target members concentrically arranged about a common axis when in operative position, and means comprising said pivotally mounted frame for moving said target elements to operative position.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS. 

